About Mater Dolorosa · New Orleans, Louisiana
Mater Dolorosa is a Roman Catholic parish in the Carrollton neighborhood of uptown New Orleans, Louisiana, belonging to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish traces its origins to 1848 as the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, serving the French-speaking Catholics of Carrollton; it grew through a merger with the nearby Mater Dolorosa German Church in 1899 and settled into its present, much-admired edifice on South Carrollton Avenue in 1909. Today it offers multiple Sunday Masses, weekday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and Devine Mercy devotions, Stations of the Cross, an active RCIA and CCD/Confirmation program, and a long-running Sunday school — pastorally led by Fr. Herbert J. Kiff, Jr. Under the shady oaks of South Carrollton Avenue, the parish describes itself as a family of God proclaiming the Gospel by word, example, prayer and faith.
- Established
- 1848
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa) — the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Seven Sorrows
- Rector
- Rev. Herbert J. Kiff, Jr.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Mater Dolorosa is a worshipping parish in the classic Catholic mold — five Sunday Masses, a daily 8:00 AM Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and devotions such as the Rosary, Devine Mercy Chaplet, Holy Face Chaplet, Gregorian chant, Stations of the Cross and Sacred Heart devotion. Parishioners can grow through RCIA, the CCD/Confirmation program, Sunday School, marriage preparation, and the Anointing of the Sick, and serve as lectors, extraordinary ministers, or altar servers. Under the oaks of South Carrollton Avenue, it is a long-established uptown parish that still calls itself a family of God, welcoming the curious, the returning, and the lifelong Catholic alike.
Mass times at Mater Dolorosa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Fifteen minutes before every Mass
- By appointment with one of the priests (call 504-866-3669)
- First Friday — Confession and Adoration
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 AM
- Saturday 3:00 PM
Our Story — A Parish Built on Faith
Mater Dolorosa's story begins in 1848 on the upriver edge of what is now New Orleans. Fr. Ferdinand Zeller built a small wood-frame church in the town of Carrollton that year and the Catholic community was incorporated in 1849. In 1871 the German-speaking faithful established their own parish, the Mater Dolorosa German Church; the two communities were reunited in 1899 under Archbishop Chapelle's direction, with Fr. John Francis Prim as the new pastor. A growing congregation and 34-year pastorate under Msgr. Prim led to the construction of the present-day church, whose cornerstone was blessed by Archbishop Blenk on August 9, 1908 and which was dedicated on March 7, 1909. The interior decoration, completed in 1926 by the Cincinnati artist Theodore Brasch, remains the building's defining artistic feature.
- 1848 — Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin established for French-speaking Catholics of Carrollton
- 1871 — Mater Dolorosa German Church established for German-speaking Catholics
- 1899 — French and German parishes united as Mater Dolorosa
- 1908 — Cornerstone laid by Archbishop Blenk on August 9
- 1909 — Church dedicated March 7
- 1926 — Interior decoration completed by Theodore Brasch of Cincinnati
Mass & Worship Schedule
Mater Dolorosa offers twelve Masses each week. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, and Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:30, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 5:30 PM, and 7:30 PM. The Saturday Mass at 4:00 PM serves as the Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions are heard fifteen minutes before every Mass, and by appointment with one of the priests.
- Monday–Saturday — 8:00 AM daily Mass
- Saturday Vigil — 4:00 PM
- Sunday — 9:30, 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 5:30 PM, 7:30 PM
- Confession 15 minutes before every Mass, or by appointment
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and prepares parishioners to receive them. Baptisms are prepared over a few meetings with a priest or lay team. Children receive First Communion and Confirmation through the CCD program. Reconciliation is available before every Mass or by appointment. Marriage preparation must begin at least six months in advance, with weddings now held in the recently renovated sanctuary. The Anointing of the Sick is offered to those who are ill in body or spirit and can be arranged for the homebound. Funeral Masses are scheduled through the parish office, and Mass Intentions can be requested for the faithful departed.
- Baptism — prepared with a priest or lay team; call the office
- Reconciliation — 15 minutes before every Mass, or by appointment
- First Communion & Confirmation — via CCD program
- Marriage — begin preparation at least six months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — for the ill in body or spirit; arrange via the parish office
- Funeral Mass — scheduled by calling (504) 866-3669
- Mass Intentions — available through the parish
Faith Formation — RCIA, CCD & Sunday School
Mater Dolorosa runs a full slate of formation programs for children and adults. Adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Children attend the CCD program for First Communion and Confirmation, and a Sunday School is offered to younger parishioners. The Director of RCIA is Brian Dufrene, and the Sunday School Principal is Pam Eshleman.
- RCIA — coordinated by Brian Dufrene (985-414-1642)
- CCD & Confirmation — religious education for children, including First Communion and Confirmation prep
- Sunday School — under Principal Pam Eshleman (504-722-9781)
Clergy, Staff & Music Ministry
The parish is pastorally led by the Reverend Herbert J. Kiff, Jr., Pastor, assisted by the Reverend Francis Ferrié, Priest in Residence. Maria Oppliger, known as 'Song,' serves as Parish Administrator. The music ministry is led by Organist Steve Waddell. Lay staff and volunteers also keep the parish running, from wedding coordination with Jason Jurgens and Clara Therio to website and technology support from Robert Ripberger.
- Pastor — Rev. Herbert J. Kiff, Jr.
- In Residence — Rev. Francis Ferrié
- Parish Administrator — Maria Oppliger ('Song')
- RCIA — Brian Dufrene
- Sunday School Principal — Pam Eshleman
- Organist — Steve Waddell
- Wedding Coordinators — Jason Jurgens, Clara Therio
- Website & Technology — Robert Ripberger
Getting Married at Mater Dolorosa
The parish welcomes couples preparing for marriage and asks them to get in touch at least six months before the wedding. Couples can book a wedding through the parish, which describes the recently renovated sanctuary as 'a breathtaking setting for a Sacrament that has been celebrated there for generations.' Wedding coordinators Jason Jurgens and Clara Therio help walk couples through the planning and liturgy.
- Contact the parish at least six months in advance
- Weddings held in the renovated sanctuary
- Wedding coordinators: Jason Jurgens and Clara Therio
Get Involved — Parish Life & Service
Beyond the Mass schedule, Mater Dolorosa's call to 'proclaim the Gospel by word, example, prayer and faith' plays out through altar service, liturgical ministries, faith formation, sacramental preparation, and parish administration. The parish also supports online giving and lists contact lines for every ministry on its website, making it easy to sign up as a parishioner, altar server, or volunteer. Music ministry is centered on the parish organist and includes the Sunday Gregorian chant devotions.
- Altar Servers — open to young parishioners
- Lectors & Extraordinary Ministers — liturgical volunteers (implied by parish sacramental life)
- RCIA team, CCD catechists, Sunday School teachers
- Music ministry with Organist Steve Waddell
- Online Giving — via the parish website
- Consecration of the Archdiocese of New Orleans to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — nine-week novena in preparation for consecration and home enthronement
Visiting Mater Dolorosa
Visitors and newcomers are explicitly welcomed. The parish notes, 'You are always welcome, whether it's your first time or you're returning after many years.' Practical details — directions, parking, accessibility for the recently renovated sanctuary — are best confirmed by calling the parish office at (504) 866-3669. The church is located at 1230 S. Carrollton Avenue in uptown New Orleans, with the parish office just around the corner at 8128 Plum Street.
- Church address — 1230 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118
- Parish office — 8128 Plum St., New Orleans, LA 70118
- Phone — (504) 866-3669
- Email — [email protected]
- Website — https://www.mdolorosa.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Augustin DeAngelispre-1847
Priest from the DesAllemands area who came to minister to Carrollton's Catholics
- Father Rossipre-1847
Assistant to Fr. DeAngelis; first official part-time pastor
- Father Ferdinand Zeller1847–
Appointed by Archbishop Blanc as first permanent pastor; built the original wood-frame church in 1848 and incorporated the parish in 1849
- Msgr. (Rev.) John Francis Prim1897–c.1931 (34 years)
Appointed by Archbishop Chapelle to unite the French and German congregations; oversaw construction and 1909 dedication of the present church